Rue Toulouse — Sex, Love and Danger in the Big Easy

My second romance, Rue Toulouse, set in the French Quarter of New Orleans, was released January 15, 2015. It is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, and as an ebook on Kindle, Nook and Kobo.

Rue Toulouse –

Fashion designer Caterine Doucette attends a masquerade ball dressed as a shimmering ice princess where she encounters ex-cop Remi Michaud, disguised as the handsome pirate Jean Lafitte. The princess and the pirate come together for one unforgettable night of passion.
When Caterine inherits the family’s exclusive boutique, Ma Chérie, an attempt is made on her life, for someone in the Doucette household will stop at nothing to possess what they feel is rightfully theirs.
Remi, working for a private security company, sets out to unmask Caterine’s would-be assassin, but finds himself torn between his desire for her and painful memories of another socialite’s betrayal.
Falling for Remi, Caterine struggles with old embedded pain, leaving her afraid to open herself to love.
In the heart of the Big Easy, the two must learn to trust one another if they’re to survive in a world of family greed and ruthless revenge.

is the first Debby Grahl novel I’ve read, though it is her second publication, and it’s romantic mystery suspense story set in New Orleans. Now, my basis for what makes a good romantic mystery suspense novel is that balanced mix of the necessary elements and this book certainly had it in spades. ^.^ Add to that characters that capture your attention and vivid writing that allows you to experience the story instead of simply being told the story and you’ve got yourself a book worth the time you put into it. Caterine Doucette lost her parents in a tragic hit-and-run accident when she was only a child but her grandmere, Miss Dauphine, has provided her with the love and care since that horrible night. Unfortunately, some of her other relatives see her as nothing more than an opportunistic, spoiled brat who just happens to be Miss Dauphine’s favorite. But Caterine works hard in Ma Cherie, the store owned by her grandmere and doesn’t let the trappings of her family’s fortune make her believe that she’s better than anyone else. When Caterine attends a masquerade ball hosted by her best friend and her husband, she meets a masked man who immediately captures her attention. She then realizes he’s the same man who was so kind to her on the street earlier that day. She throws caution to the wind and does something prim and proper Caterine wouldn’t normally do but runs off right after. A kidnapping attempt and what appears to be threats against her life force Caterine to seek help and it comes in the form of her unforgettable mystery man–Remi Michaud. Remi Michaud is a former New Orleans police officer who quit the force to start his own security business with his best friend. He’s had his heart broken before and vows to stay away from rich, privileged women who only consider him good enough between the sheets but not as something more. He falls hard and fast for Caterine but his past makes him wary and he stops himself from even hoping for a future with her. His focus right now is to protect her from those who want to do her harm and to find out who may be behind the evil scheme. The more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow but will there really be any hope for a future together once Caterine’s case is solved? Could one or more of Caterine’s relatives want to get rid of her so badly just to get their hands on Ma Cherie that they would be willing to do her bodily harm and, possibly, even kill her? Caterine and Remi need to decide how far they’re willing to go to discover and capture the mastermind behind her kidnapping and potential murder and how far they’re willing to take their blossoming relationship.